No One, Not Even Real, Can Undo That Hoodoo.

After today’s events, as you may well have heard, a terrible curse is bound to live on another year:

No host has made the final in the modern Champions League era, beginning in 1992.

After the Cash Dump Heard ‘Round The World in the summer, which cost Real some quarter-billion euros, it was expected that, at the very least, the Real Madrid knockout hoodoo would be done with. With an eye to dream, they thought they might – just might – be able to buy a trip to the Bernabeu on May 22nd. Olympique Lyonnais, rather staunch supporters of history, wanted to see the curse live on. The Frenchmen got their wish; Real got another spring & summer to stew.

But beyond the Real and their Champions League allergies, it’s nigh unbelievable a home team has not made the final, much less won it, in this modern era. The last time a home team even made the final was Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in 1984, who cruelly lost to Liverpool on penalties. Liverpool also won it at “home” in 1978, but that was Wembley, which isn’t really the same thing as Anfield. It’s sleeping in the neighborhood, but not quite your house, your bed.

Those with an appreciation for schadenfreude will enjoy that Ajax won it at De Kuip, the home of fierce rivals Feyenoord, in 1972, which has to be just about as good as being at home. (This would be the portion where Barcelona fans start licking their chops over a defense.)

To find the last time a home team won the final, you have to go all the way back to 1965 and Inter, who won it at the San Siro. And only one other time has it happened before, which you can probably guess simply based on odds: Real Madrid in 1957, the second in their run of five which kicked off the Champions League competition.

Though simply spending money doesn’t always work – and it’s even rarer that it works right away – you have to think this was the best chance since Old Trafford in 2003. Manchester United dominated through the groups and then were dumped out of the knockouts in the first round by a certain Real Madrid, back when two-legged ties weren’t the daunting expedition they are today.

Next year it’ll be at Wembley again, which means someone can pull a Liverpool, but it won’t be the real deal. That leaves 2012 and the Allianz Arena, where Bayern can become the first team in more than 25 years to even truly host the final.

Someone kidnap Franck Ribery and sign him to that contract already – for the fans.

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Category: Champions League, World Football